Automatic damper-operating device for drying machines



March 20, 1928.

' F. G. SARGENT AUTOMATIC DAMPER OPERATING DEVICE FOR DRYING MACHINESFiled Aug.l8. 1926 open.

72 vzzza z' I Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED s'rrs FREDERICK G. SARGEE'T, OF WESTFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO C. G. SAR- GENTS SONS CORPORATION, OF GRANITEVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC DAMPER-OPERATING DEVICE FOR DRYING MACHINES.

Application filed August 18, 1926.

This invention relates to a machine for drying wool or other textilefibres or other materials.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide means whereby theoperation of x the exhaust fan, although continuous will be preventedfrom exhausting the air when it is comparatively dry and thus avoidingthe loss of heat and fuel in that manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is aside view of the end of a drying machine showing a preferred form of myinvention applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the same.

This invention is shown as applied to a type of drying machines in whichan endless apron 10 runs over a drum 11 at one end and is carried by asimilar drum at the other end. The apron is located in the dryingchamber 12. These drums are driven at constant speed. 1 On the shaft 13of the drum 11 is located a disc 14L having an eccentric pin 15. Thispin obviously rotates once for every revolution of the drum and for thetravel of the apron a distance equal to the circumference of the drum.

Every time the pin 15 rotates through the angle marked closing in Fig.1, it raises an arm 17 which is adjustably fixed to a rod 18 throughbolt holes 19 on the rod. This rod is mounted to slide in a bearing 20or bracket fixed on the outside ofthe drying machine. It is connected atthe bottom by a link 21 with a lever 22. This lever is offset so as toengage a damper 23 which is pivoted on a longitudinal axis andconstitutes means for closing or partially closing an opening 24 throughwhich the air is discharged by an exhaust fan 25.

It will be obvious that the raising of the arm 17 by the pin 15 lowersthe free end of the lever 22 and depresses the damper 23 so as to bringit to the closed position. This closes the damper and prevents the airfrom being forced out by the fan but, on the contrary, necessitates thecirculation of the an inside the drier instead. I Vhen the drum hasrotated through the angle indicated as closing, the pin 15 pulls awayfrom the arm 17 and has no further influence upon it. At

Serial No. 130,056.

that time weights 26 open the damper until it rests on the stop pin 27and the moist air is allowed to be discharged without hindrance. v

It will be seen therefore that the objection that the exhaust fans havebeen heretofore continuously pumping the air out of the ma chine andwasting the heated dry air, which it is desirable to retain, isovercome. The length of time the damper has to remain open to exhaustthe damp air can be determined by experiment and the parts are designed,or adjusted throughthe holes 19, to provide for this amount.

It will be seen that it is timed so that the damper remains open aperiod of time long enough to allow the moisture that has beenaccumulated to be discharged. Then the damper closes and no air escapesuntil such time as the air is again saturated with moisture. -At thistime the damper opens and discharges the moisture laden air for apredetermined period. It will be understood that in the larger sizemachines, it is necessary to have more than one moist air outlet butonly oneisshown herein.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in'the claims. Therefore I do not wish to belimited to all the details of construction herein shown and described,but what I do claim is 1. In a drying machine, the combination with thedrying chamber, of an exhaust fan, an air outlet adjacent to the, fan,and a damper for the air outlet, of an apron for supporting thematerial, a drum for carrying the apron, and means on the drum forclosing said damper during a part of each revolution of the drum toprevent the eX- haust of the air before it is sufiiciently laden withmoisture.

2. In a drier, the combination with an exhaust fan for taking out themoisture laden air and an outlettherefore, of a damper for controllingthe opening of said outlet, said damper. being arranged normallytoremain open, a lever adapted to engage the damper and close it when thelever is depressed, a

rod connected with said lever, an arm ad 'justablymounted on the rod,and means controlled by the operation of the drier for peopen, meansadapted to engage the damper riodically raising the rod and opening theand close it, and means controlled by the 10 damper. operation of thedrier for periodically actu- 3. In a drier, the combination with an eX-"ating said means and opening the damper. 5 haust fan for taking out themoisture laden In testimony whereof I have. hereunto afair and an outlettherefor, of a damper for fixed my signature.

controlling the opening of said outlet, said damper being arrangednormally to remain FREDERICK G. SARGENT.

